Stoker conveyer



H. P. ANDERSON 2,056,243

STOKER CONVEYER Original Filed Dec. 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a My lNENTOR JJuaraQ/dfimewan ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1936. H. P. ANDERSON STOKERCONVEYER Original Filed Dec. 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented@ct. h, 1936 "-11 STTS lznsezn ATE S'EUKER C l a Application Decemberlb, 1934, Serial No. 758,923 Renewed rch 3, 1936 ii (llaims.

This invention relates to the conveyers for locomotive stokers or likedevices and more particularly appertains to the class of stokerconveyers embodying separable end sections connected by a a telescopicintermediate section.

Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide asimplified and more compact intermediate conveyer section thanheretofore used consistent with a minimum degradation of it the fuelconveyed therethrough.

Other objects reside in the particular shape oi. parts comprising theintermediate conveyer section and in their relation one with the otherand with associated parts or the other conveyer sec- 15 tions.

on the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the rearportion of the locomotive and the forward portion of the tender with thestoker 20 conveyer of the invention shown thereon in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. l but with improved stokerconveyer shown in central vertical longitudinal section;

2 Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view online 3-3 of and by hand whendesired, into the firebox I3- 5 The stoker S extends from beneath thedeck M of the tender it forwardly and upwardly through the locomotivecab deck It to the lower portion of the aperture or firing opening l2.Any suitable flexible coupling connection, as at it, may be 40 employedto tie the tender l5 to the locomotive ill by the usual connectionsbetween the tender underframe it and the locomotive underframe I 9.

The stoker S is of the type employing a rearward or trough conduitsection A rigidly mounted 5 in any well known manner on the tenderunderframe it beneath the-deck Id. at forward or riser conduit section Brigidly mounted on the locomotive to the backhead I2 by means of thebracket 20, and an intermediate conduit section 0. With- 50 in thesesections there is mounted a conveyer screw comprising the section 2|rotatably mounted in the trough section A. the section 22 rotatablvmounted in the riser conduit section B, and the intermediate section 23rotatably mounted in 55 the intermediate conduit section C. These screwsections are universally connected at their adjoining ends by universaljoints as at N and 25. The forward joint 251s known in the trade as adouble universal joint. It employs the connecting link 25a universallyattached at its ends in the jaws 5 22a and 23a of the screw sections 22and 23, respectively.

In conveying fuel from thetender to the firebox it is desirable to do sowith a minimum degradation of the lump fuel and, as will presentlyappear, the intermediate conveyer section of this invention permits thefuel to be passed therethrough with a minimum of grinding andpulverizing, while at the same time, it is simplified and more compactthan similar conveyers oi past practice.

v As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the intermediate conduit section Ccomprises telescopic tubular conduit members 28 and 27. The conduitmember 26 carriesthe spherically shaped vertically split clamps 28 forattachment to the spherical hollow ball 29 carried by the trough sectionA, the two spherical parts 28 and 29 forming a universal jointconnection .0 between the trough section A and the intermediate conduitsection C. Likewise, the conduit member 27 constitutes part of auniversal joint connection E with the riser conduit section B. Thespherical ball 30 on the forward end of the conduit member 2? rests in aspherical seat 30 at the bottom end 30 of the riser conduit section Band a removable cover 32 shaped to conform with the seat 3! clamped overthe upper half of the spherical ball 30 forms with the ball and the seat3! the universal connection E between the riser conduit section B andthe intermediate conduit section C. Bolts 33 secure the cover 32 at itssides to a flange 34 extending laterally from the seat 3|. Thus it willbe understood the intermediate conduit section 0 at opposite ends isuniversally connected to the trough section A and to the riser conduitsection B.

The longitudinal movement necessary in the conveyer organization isprovided by the telescopic relation of the conduit members 26 and 27.The former slidably extends into the latter to a resting point thereinover the bottom portion of the spherical ball 30 and over and above theseat 3| whereby the overhanging weight of the conduit member 26 and thescrew 23 is supported by the seat 3i of the riser conduit section. Thisconstruction prevents any sagging or binding of the conduit members 26and 21.

In Fig. 1 it will be observed that theuniversal connection E between theintermediate and riser conduit sections is disposed closely adjacent thecab deck l6 and a portion thereof extends through the deck into the cab40. It is important therefore to make this joint construction as compactas possible to avoid objectionable intrusion into the cab 40 and at thesame time the internal construction of the parts must permit free andloose passage of the fuel. This is accomplished in the construction ofthis invention by the particular shape and relation of the conduitmembers 26 and 21. It will be seen from Figures 2, 4, and that theportion of the conduit member 26 within the rear part of the conduitmember 21 closely encompasses the screw section 23 to a point rearwardof the jaw 23a where the internal floor or round bottom of the conduitmember 26 slopes away from the screw and is formed with that portionextending beneath the jaw 230. having a greater internal radius thanthat portion closely housing the screw. The relation is such that thespace between the bottom portion 26a and the jaw 23a is no less than thespace between the hub 23b of the screw 23 and the bottom portion 26b ofthe conduit member 26; and the point where the internal fioor-begins toslope away from the screw is spaced rearward from the jaw 230, at leasta distance equal to the space between the screw hub 23b and the bottomportion 26b. This construction permits the fuel to be conveyed throughthe intermediate conduit section C. and beyond the jaw 23a with a.minimum breakdown of the lump fuel. Externally the radius of curvatureof the bottom portions 26c, 26b is the same throughout the length ofthat portion of the conduit member 26 projecting into the conduit member21.

To provide additional clearance around the double universal joint 25 andthe screw jaw 23a the front end portion of the conduit member 26 is cutback as at 35 to a point rearward of the plane of the spherical ball 30so that there is even more clearance at the sides and top of the jaw 23athan along the bottom. Thus the effective area for the fuel about thejaw 23:: and the link 25a, is greater than the area for the fuel in therearward portion of the conduit member 26; and forward of the extremeend of the conduit member 26, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the internalarea of the conduit member 21 and of the lower end of the riser conduitsection B is still greater than the area for the fuel in the plane ofthe jaw 230. and this also facilitates in passing the fuel with'aminimum pulverizing or cnushing action.

The conduit members 26 and 21 are held from rotating with the screw bythe key 36 and the.

' be imparted to the screw sections byanysuitable drive mechanism.

From the foregoing those familiar particularly with the problems arisingout of the use of locomotive stokers will recognize that this inventionprovides a telescopic intermediate conduit construction of minimumexternal sizes consistent with and providing for adequate internal areasfor free and loose movement of the fuel.

I claim:

'1. In a stoker conveyer comprising separable end and intermediateconduit sections, the end conduit sections being fixed againstlongitudinal movement with respect to their supporting structure and theintermediate conduit section including telescopic conduit members, theone member having a spherical ball shaped end universally connected toone of the end conduit sections, and the other conduit member comprisinga tubular portion at one end slidably resting in said ball shaped end ofthe first named conduit member and at its other end being universallymounted on the adjacent end of the other end conduit section, and ascrew conveyer in each conduit section including a universal jointpositioned in the vertical plane of the ball shaped end of the firstnamed conduit member and over that part of said tubular portion of thesecond said conduit members being arranged with that portion of thesecond named conduit member beneath said universal joint of the screwconveyer having a greater radius internally than that portion thereoffor the greater distance rearward of said universal joint.

2. In a stoker conveyer comprising separable end and intermediateconduit sections, the end conduit sections being fixed againstlongitudinal movement with respect to their supporting structure and theintermediate conduit section including telescopic conduit members, theone member having a spherical ball shaped end universally connected toone of the end conduit sections, and the other conduit member comprisinga tubular portion at one end slidably resting in said ball shaped end ofthe first named conduit membed and at its other end being universallymounted on the adjacent end of the other end conduit section, and ascrew conveyer in each conduit section including a universal jointpositioned in the vertical plane of the ball shaped end of the firstnamed conduit member and over that part of said tubular portion of thesecond named conduit member slidably resting therein, said conduitmembers being arranged with that portion of the second named conduitmember beneath said universal joint of the screw conveyer having agreater radius internally than that portion thereof for the greaterdistance rearward of said universal joint, the sides and top of thesecond named conduit member being cut. away in the plane of theuniversal joint of the screw conveyer.

3. In a stoker conveyer, in combination, a pair of conduit sections, theone conduit section comprising telescopic conduit members, the onetele-- scopic member having a spherical ball-shaped end universallyconnected to an end of the other conduit section, the other telescopicconduit member comprising a tubular portion at one end slidably restingin said ball-shaped end of the first named telescopic conduit member,and a screw conveyer in each conduit section including a universal jointpositioned in the vertical plane of the ball-shaped end of the firstnamed telescopic conduit member and over that part of said tubularportion of the second named telescopic conduit member slidably restingtherein, said telescopic conduit members being arranged with thatportion of the second named telescopic conduit member beneathsaiduniversal joint of the screw conveyer having a greater radiusinternally than that portion thereof for the greater distance rearwardof said universaljoint.

4. In a stoker conveyer, in combination, a pair of conduit sections, theone conduit section comprising telescopic conduit members, the onetelescopic member having a spherical ball-shaped end universallyconnected to an end of the other conduit section, the other elescopicconduit member comprising a tubular portion at one end slidamazes ablyresting in said ball-shaped end of the first namedtelescopic conduitmember, and a screw conveyer in each conduit section including auniversal joint positioned in the vertical plane of the ball-shaped endof the first named telescopic conduit member and over that part of saidtubular portion of the second named telescopic conduit member slidablyresting therein, said telescopic conduit members being arranged withthat portion of the second named telescopic conduit member beneath saiduniversal joint of the screw conveyer having a greater radius internallythan ing cut away in the plane of the universal joint of the screwconveyer.

HOWARD P. ANDERSON.

